Liquid flow control device



July 22, 1952 A. J. BIELSKI 2,604,111

LIQUID FLOW CONTROL DEVICE Filed Feb. 14, 1948 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Gnome;

y 1952 A. J. BIELS-IKI 2,604,111

' LIQUID FLOW CONTROL DEVICE Filed Feb. 14, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zhwentor HLEXJ BIELS/(I attorney s She ets-Sheet 3 siisaii. w

A. J. BIELSKI LIQUID FLOW CONTROL DEVICE July 22, 1952 Filed Feb. 14, 1948 Patented July 22, 1 952 LIQUID FLOW CONTROL DEVICE Alex J. Bielski, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor to Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company,

Minneapolis, Minn., a corporationof Delaware Application February 14, 1948, Serial N 0. 8,327

18 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improved control device for regulating and controlling the now of liquid. While the device may have utility in a number of fields, it is primarily intended to be used in controlling the flow of liquid fuel to a furnace Generally speaking, fuel flow control devices embodying some of the basic elements of this invention, such as, a constant level pan for maintaining a uniform head of oil, a siphon for feeding oil to a furnace from a constant level pan,

' and electrical heating means for raising and lowvariation in the rate of fuel feed.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a control device that requires a less exacting installation than prior art devices.

' Another object of the invention i to provide a control device wherein the valve actuating lever has a frictionless connection to a rigid supporta ing member.

still another object of the invention i to provide a control device of the above-mentioned type wherein the constant level control valve is always bathed in oil.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device having a siphon discharge means for discharging oil from the constant level chamher into a dischargecompartment positioned substantially centrally of th control device.

A still further object of the invention is-to provide a latch type of manual actuator for lowering the iphon of a fuel control device and a power operator for also lowering the siphon and releasing the manual actuator to its inoperative position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a primer for the siphon or siphon's of a control device .of the above-mentioned type which is latchable in its priming position, but releasable to another position wherein its lifts the siphon or siphons to its or their inoperative position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide sturdy, compact and finely adjustable stop siphon in an above-mentioned control device.

Additional objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings whereint' Figure 1 'is-a top plan view of the'controldevice with its cover removed;

Figure 2 is a front 'elevational view of the control device'with parts thereof broken away and parts removed; r 7 1 Figure 3 is a plan control device below the cover and top wall and with'parts removed;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional View taken alon the line 4-4 of Figure 3; g I

Figure 5 is an e'n dview of thesiphons and their associated control means and priming means, with portions thereof broken awayand adjacent parts removed;-

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the inlet filter and the constant level control valve" ofthe control device;

- Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the manual actuator for moving the main siphon of-the control device; and a Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view online 8-8 of Figure 6 of the valve and its actuator-.-

Referring now toFigur-es l and 2 Of'thedrawing, the main casing of thecontrol deviceis generally designated by-the reference numeral l I. It consists of a rectangular box-sh'aped casting I2 havin a thick bottom portion l3 and a rear wall extension 14. As can best be seen in Figure 3, the thick bottom l3 has formed'therein a pendulum-shaped chamber- 15' slightly larger than a float to be described hereinafter. Discharge chambers l6 and H are disposed on 0D- posite sides of the narrow portion of the chamber l5 and high walled chambers I8 and H! are also disposed on oppositesides of thenarrow portion of the chamber 15 and'at the opposite end of the casing from thelarge portionof the chamber IS. The last mentioned chambers l8 and I9 are adapted to receive power'mecham'sm for operating a fuel flow control means and'the inlet filter and valve control means, respectively, each of which are to be described hereinafter. Bifurcated lugs 20 and opening 2|, located at the bottom. and top of the rearwall,respectively, are provided for ready mounting of the control device on a suitable support adjacent the, furnace to be controlled bythe control device. 7 A removable partition wall 22 is securedby screws 23 to laterally extending lugs 24' formed on the side walls of the casing II. A recess 25 .inthe end wall of chamber I9 .is provided for the passage of. a fuel inlet conduit while th bottom 13 is view of the interior of the partition provided with a threaded outlet 26 and passages 21 (only one shown) establishing communication between chambers I6 and I! and the top of outlet 26.

Figure 6 shows a part of the fuel inlet assembly generally designated by the reference numeral 28." It comprises a casting'ze having a threaded fuel inlet portion 30 communicating with a vertically extending bore 3| having a plugged lower end 32 and an enlarged threaded opening 33 at the top thereof. The bore 3| is adapted to receive a filter assembly to be described hereinafter. A laterally "extending portion 29A of the casting '29 is vertically apertured at 34 and has a laterally extending passage 35 establishing communication between aperture 34 and bore 3|.

Mounted in the aperture 34 is a valve unit 36 to receive a flanged plug 39, which when screwed into the body 36 will rigidly hold the valve unit by the clamping action of the flange on the plug 39 and a flange 36A on the body 36. A skirt mem- 4 is suitably secured in the chamber IS with the portion 36 extending outwardly through the opening 25 in the casing II and the portion 29A extending over the high partition wall between the chamber l9 and I! in a generally central direction of the control device. The securing means may take the-form of 'a plurality-of screws (not tion. The top of the body 36 is internally threaded her 40, secured by any suitable means to the botdescribed hereinafter to control the flow of fuel therethrough. Screw-threaded in a socket-in the top of plug 39, is an adjustment screw-42 adapted to cooperate with valve actuating mechanism to be describ ed hereinafter.

The filter assembly which fits in the bore 3|, comprises a filter 43 sealed at its bottom and open at its top. The upper end of the filter has inwardly and outwardly extending circular flanges which serve as a bearingshoulder and a supporting shouldenrespectively. A plug 44 has a threaded lower-end and an annularshoulder thereon for screw-threading into the enlarged opening'33'and sealing the opening, respectively. A link 45 is pivotedat its upper end to the-plug 44 and carries at its lower end an X-shaped bear- 7 ing member 46adapted when inclined,-to pass through the opening provided by the inwardly extending flange on the filter but to form a swivel connection with said inwardly extending flange whenthe link 45 extends axially of the filter. A I

opening'33, the outwardly extending flange on the filter will seat first on the. top edge of the sealing relationship-on top of the body 29. In removing the filter for cleaning purposes, it will be readily seen that unscrewing'of the plug will first take 'up the 'lost' motion ga between the bearing member 46 and the inwardly extending flange and will then pull the filter outwardly with considerable forceto break the 'filt'er loose from its gener'ally sticky sealingposition.

shown) extending through therear wall of the casing I and into the body 29 or may be secured by any other well known type of securing means.

As can be seen in Figures 3 and 4, there is mounted on the top surface of the lateral extension 29A of the filter-valve assembly a Y- shaped plate member 43 and a flexible member 49 having the same general shape as the plate 48 but also having downwardl and inwardly converging le'gs'extending from the ends of the legs of the Y and integrally joined at their lower ends to form a supporting means for a control lever now to be described. A second plate 48 may be provided abovethe member 49 to assume flexing of member 49 at the ends of the. members 48. Secured to the lower end of the flexible member 49, as by means of rivets, is a rigid, generally L-shaped lever consisting of a wide vertically positioned leg 50 riveted to a generally U- shaped horizontally disposed leg 5|. The leg'50 has riveted thereto a bimetal strip 52 which extends at an acute angle upwardlyand away from the leg 50. Riveted to the upper end of the bimetal 52 is a generally Y-shaped rigid member 53 having curved end portions 54 adapted to bear against downwardly converging leg portions of the flexible'member 49. I outwardly directed flanges 5|a, extending laterally from the lower edge of the legs of the U-shaped member 5| are notched to provide for the passage of the downwardly extending legs of member 46 and the upper ends 54 of the member 53. The more centrally disposed of the flanges 51a isalso notched out at 55 to receive an arm of a safety control to be described hereinafter. Mounted on these flanges 5|a are two opposed counterweights 56 which are secured thereon by means of a tie bolt 51 ex-' tending from recesses in each of the counterweights through apertures in the legsof the member 5| and through a recess in the upper surface of the extension 29a. The tie bolt also serves as a brace for the member 5| and as a stop to limit the lowering of the weightedends. -A generally U-shaped yoke member 58, having a pin thereon extending upwardly from the base of the U to engage in a recess in the bottom. of the valve 4| for actuation thereof, has laterally extending end portions thereof passing through apertures in the legs of the member 5| and resting'on the flanges 5| a- Extending through the ."bore3l and will beheld thereon by the spring while permitting continued inward movement of 'the plug" 44 until its bearing shoulder restss'in legs of the U-shaped member 5| near the base thereof, is a pivot 59 having .reduced end portions. Extending downwardly from, each end of the .pivot 5.9.are two supporting arms 60 for a constant level pan .or container generally designated by the reference numeral 6|- The arms are held 'onthe end portions of the pivot 59 by means of inwardly biased apertured legs of a U-shaped spring member 62. The high coeflicient of expansion part of the bimetal 52 is positioned to face the member 50 so that, as the temperature of the oil drops, a member 53 will move toward the pivot 59-. This reduces the moment arm, the distance between pivot 59 and the fiexure pivot,

pivot. It is thus seen-that the colder the-oil becomes, thegreater will be the liquid or oil level inthe container 6]. This is necessaryto assure a uniform rate of flow of the liquid irrespective of its changes in viscosity. .The container or pan BI has laterallyspaced compartments 63 and 64 vithereirrwith dischalrgeioutlets B and 68 respectively, positioned'to discharge into chambers I1 and I6 respectively. An overflow pipe-61 is positioned in container BI directly above-the narrow portion of chamber I5, for a purpose to-be described hereinafterl A curled ribbon shaped member 68 is positioned slightly above a beveled upper end of the overflow pipe 61 to prevent the formation of a meniscus.

A safety device associated with the liquid level control means described above, for shutting off the. flow of liquid into container 6| in the event that liquid should overflow from said container or chambers I6 and I1, consists of a latch mechanism which is float controlled. A bracket member 69 secured to walls of the casing by screws 10 and'il' has a pivot 12 riveted thereto and extending across and above the narrow portion of compartment I5; A slotted plate 13 is secured to the top of the bracket 89 by means of screws 14.

Vertically slidable through the aperture in the plate 13 and alongside the bracket 99, is a manually actuable latch member 15 that is constantly biased upwardlyaby-a tension spring "It anchored to an upper portion of the bracket 69 and an in- .termediate portion of the latch member I5. One

edge of the latch member is notched to provide shoulders 11 and 15a. A laterally and upwardly extending arm I8 extends through the aperture 55 in the lever 5I for holding said lever 5| in its valve closed position when the latch member 15 is in its raised position. Pivoted on the pivot 'IZ is a latch lever 19 having at its upper end a laterallyprojecting shoulder Sfl adapted to engagethe shoulder TI on the latch member I5, and

having at its other end a disk shaped float 8| positioned in chamber I 5. When the chamber I5 is substantially emptyv of liquid, the float 8| will bein its lowered position with the shoulder 89 in engagement with the shoulder 'II.' In this position, the horizontal portion of the arm I8 is .lowered away from the lever ,5I permitting the lever 51 to operate under the control of the container 6|. 1

The apparatus thus far described, providesfor controlled admission of liquid. fuel to a constant level container and safety means for cutting off the said flow. It will be noted from the above description that the safety control means is necessarily positioned in the casing of the control device first and that the fuel inlet and control assembly is then removably inserted v.as a unit downwardly into the casing and is suitably secured in position with respect to the safety control means.

.The assembly for feeding fuel from the constant level container BIis mounted on the cover plate 22 and canbest be seen in Figures 1 and 2.

A smalldiameter siphon 82 is pivotally supported through link 83 and pivot 84 to a hookshaped lever. 85. One end'of the lever 85 is I pivoted on a pivot bracket 86 suitably secured to the plate 22 by means of screw 81. 'The hook end 85a, of the lever 85 is'adapted to bear on a spiral camsurface 88 of a manually adjustable control knob 89. 'Ilhe knob .89 is rotatably: mounted on plate 22 by means of a screw 99 passing through the plate 22 and threaded into a stop 9| which limits the upper movement of the lever 85. By rotating the knob 89 to position the knob T various portions of the camsurface 88 under the hook-shaped end-85a, the discharge endof the siphonmay beraised and lowered to vary the fuel. flow. therethrough. Adjustable or fixed stops (not shown) may be provided for. cooperation with an-abutment shoulder on the underside ofthe knob (not shown) to limit the upper. and

lower limits of the cam adjustment. I

A second siphon of larger diameter and having legs of substantially equal lengths, is similarly pivoted to a hooked-shape lever 93, which is parallel to but extends inthe opposite direction from lever 85'. The siphon 92 is connected to the pivoted lever 93 through link 94a-and pivot :95 to an extension, 931) on the lever 193. Thelother end ofl-the lever 93 is pivoted on pivot :98. to

bracket 91.. .Thebracket9'l is secured'toplate 22 .by" means of. screw 23 and screw 98. fWhile this bracket is shown as being separate. from but secured to the plate- 22, it is obvious that the vplate 22 could be. madev an integral extension thereof; Laterally' spaced from the'Lpiv0t 96,

is a' pin 99 rigidlysecured to and extending V laterallyrfrom the lever 93 for engagement by a power meansto be :described below. The

hook-shaped end 93a of the lever 93, likethe end 85a, isadapted. to bear on a cam surface IOU-on a knob: IOI similar to the knob 89. The

--k'nob. IOI is likewise secured rotatably to the .p1ate'22 bymeans of screw I02 screw-threaded into stop I83 which'limits the uppermost position of lever 93. A fixed stop I04 is provided on -the plate 22 to limit clockwise rotation of IDI, while' an adjustable stop, I95 mounted on a bell crank arm I06, pivoted around a screw I02 in a recess in plate 22, is provided to limit counterclockwise rotation of the knob IOI. The lever I86 islocked in its adjusted positio-nby .means of screw I01 passing through arcuate slot I08 and screw-threaded into a threaded hole in the lever I96 so as. to clamp the lever I99 in' its adjusted position.

the heater isenergized. The leads '4 and I I5 are threaded through an insulation strip I I6 and support member III and are soldered or otherwise secured to terminal members: I11 and H8. Lead wires from a control circuit areadapted to pass through an aperture (not shown) in the wall .of the casing adjacent theterminals III and H8 for-connection thereto by means of 1 screws therein.- As'can be seen from the drawing, clockwise movement of the upper end of bimetal member Ill9wil1 permit the siphon92 and its associated arm 93 to lower by gravity. to a position wherein end 93a bears on the cam surface I 90'. Deenergization of the heater I I3 causes the bimetallicmernber I99 to move in a counterclockwise direction engaging pin 99 so as to 'liftthe siphon 92. v

To provide for operation of the liquid or fuel feeding means when there has been a power failure or when it is desirable to initiate operation thereof when the control circuit for the device does notcall for its operation, a manually operable lever' I I9 is provided. It has an arcuate arm 7 witha notch I20'in its outer surface, a radial arm with a sleeve bearing .12] and .2a camarm I22 adapted. .to engage the. upper end. of..the. bimetallic member 19.. I The bone through .the --sleeve.bearing.. I2 I ;.on: the. lever I I9 has a diameter slightly ..greaterthanxthe .diameterxof the .pivot 96 plus the ..depth..of:the.notch 1210. This enables a spring "I23, coiled yaround'theisleeve bearing .l 2 Is. and bearing at opposite endsagainst the lever IIQ-Yanda shoulder .onithe bracket 91,

t;move the bearing sleeve and: the notch out of ..engagementwith 1the.end.of a slot.I.24 in-xthe bracket .and to return. lever .I I9 in a.clockwise ..direction to" its inoperative'position. Inmov- :ing the. lever .I I9 manually to a position shown .Figurelthebinietallic member I09 wilL'be .moved; almost to: its fully energized positionwith the. siphona92nlowered into engagement with the cam surface I I Ill]. In .this .position, :the :pressure .exerted by bimetallic member [.09 on thearm I22.is sufficient to prevent the spring I23. from .kicking the arm II9 towards the. right .anddisengaging the notch J- from the bracket 91. Howevenwith power resumption and the; control system calling for operationpofthe control .device, the heater I I3. will cause the bimetallic ..member I09 to .movea littlefurtherxtowards the :right or clockwise so as to enable the. spring I23 to disengagearm 1II9 .and'v return it to its in- ..operative position. -.This operation is generally known in the artas automatic recycling.

.Control'means are also provided for initial] priming the siphons. and for holding. :thesiphons .in their inoperative positionsregardles's .of the condition of ,the other control .means'for :the

siphonsr Thiscontrol means .consists of a cupshapedxcontainer. I25,. best seen in Figure 5, suspended fromithe plate 22v by-means of posts. I26 and so positioned ..that about two-thirds or more of the cup-shaped member extendsbelowthe level of the liquid in the container GI. oppositely disposed openings I21 (one shown) in the side walls .of the cup-shaped container I establishes communication:betweenthe :interior'sof said con- In. its :lowermost; position, the ;openings I2I iin the side walls of thep unger are :inpalignment with similar openings .I2'I:in;the member I25. In the, raised position-,of:plunger I28, the openings I2I:in the plunger; I28 are ..aboveltheupper -edge.,0f the container I25 and .theloweredge of the plunger I28 :is .above theppening I21 in:..the containerI25. .Also, in .theiraisedgposition'ofthe plunger I28, the inlet-ends of. :the:siphorr'are: held in no-flow position by said plunger. :iFIhe-plunger operating means consists 20f a...:s. temi 133; havi an; abutment .shoulderzl3j4 ;interm.e.diate:- :;its.:ends ;:;and::abutmentzishoulden135 adjacent-:itscupper ;.-,edge. alt is:resilient1y; biased ini .an:npwar.dmosition byzzmeans.:0f::a;spring zI'3fi.-anchored-;atone .zendotmplartez 2 zanditat. .thei othenlendi to. the-.zstem open rear-sideof the ;.cover.;abuts against the 'Thefuel' supply tothe constant level container .;6I will be through the filter valve assembly28 the furnace. Fuel'flow isthen sufiicient to mainataina: low or pilot flame when ignited manually .8 i I331 below abutment A34. The .uppenenmextends through a .slotin5the plate 22 forready manipulation-while the; lower .end extendsthrough the top, wall 10f .the .plunger I28 and is anchored thereto by :meanszof ..pins passing .ithrough apertures in thelrod, above:andhelortthe;uppenwall of plunger ..I 28. .5; The. .shoulder l;3.5;is. adapted .to engage under the 1plate'g22 .to' hold the plunger in: its. lowered..position'against the biasofthe .spring.l36 whilethe abutment shoulder. I34 limits the upward movement .of the rod 1 by ..the spring .136. Thespring. exerts a lateralpressure on; the shoulder I 3 1 .tending to .keep shoulder I35 under plate 22 when in its lowered position. Itis thus .seenthata downward movement of thestem I33 both lowers the ..siphon and primes .the ..siphon to-initiate fuel flow,.5and that aslight transverse ,movement .of 'the.;stem 'I.33 latches it .in this position, r p

The-..liquid or fuel discharging. lowered as ;a;unit into its, position withrthe lower end of the heat motor ;in' the. chamber I8 .and the plate 22 resting on the ears -24 to which. it .is secured by 'screws 23. This completes .theassembly of the control device 'With the-exception that. the cover I212 havinga socket member (not shown) secured to theunder surface of the :top wall-is positioned over the controlsandfilter. The two ends and front wallet-the cover rest on the-two ends, and front-wall :ofxthe .casing- I2 while an wall I4. Thecover isheld in.pl'aceiloya-plug 22a fitting in the cover.v socket; member.

Operation 'The control device is installed for operation on an .oil iurnace-by-m0unting the control device by means ofscrews' (notshown) passing through the-hole 2I and the bifurcatedlugs-MI and intoa suitable support adjacent the ;furnace. -The-de- I vice must bepositioned sothatoilwill flowfrom -chambe-rs I6 and I! to the furnaceburner but,

also, mustbe positioned low enough so that if an excessive-amount-o oil-accumul tesin th f tainer.and'thecontainertI.below theliquidlevel, f a 9 ur nace, it will-backup--into-chambers-l 6 and I7 and -overflow their sidewalls into chamber I5 to operate thesafety-fuel cut-off means; "The fiowof oil from the device to thefurnace willbe through openings 2'7 and outlet 26 anda;pipe (not shown) connected -to -the furnace burner.

' and a fuelsupply-pipe-(-not shown) extending from a fuel supply tankto the threaded inlet 30.

of-"the filter. Lead wi-res 'not shown are-then connected to the terminals III and ll8-to-put the heater H3 in serieswith aroom thermostat H and a source of:electrical-power.

With the control device thus installed} the adlustment knobs 89 and IOI are rota-ted counterclockwise to position alow portion of the "cam surfaces'QlB and-Illllbelow the endsfw'and-93a respectively. With-fuel being supplied to the control device, filter 43 andvalve II-to-fillcon- .tainer 6| to its valve closing level, thestem" I33 is lowered andmoved transversely to latch shoulder "J35. underplate 22. This primes both-siphon-82 ..and Bland lowers siphon 82. This star-tstheflow ofzfuel through siphon- BZ cOmpartment 63,-oute let: 65,cha mber I1,=-passage'--21 and'outlet 26 to or, by .a remote controlmeans. The size of this control knob 89;

The siphon 92, while primed, will not discharge fuel into the compartment 64 so, long at it is in its raised position. This is' due to the fact that the discharge end of the siphon 9215 not sufficiently below the level of the liquid in container 6| to provide the difference'inhead to overcome the friction of the fluid in the siphon.

By manuallyactuating the'lever I 19 to theposi tion shown in Figure 7,. the siphon 92 will be lowered to causethe flow of fuel therethrough, The fuel will then flowfrom siphon 92 into compartment 64, through outlet '56, into chamber 16, and through the other passage 21 andl'outlet 25 to the furnace. This addition of a much larger rate of fuel flow to thatalreadyprovided by the pilot siphon, will cause a high flame to occur in the furnace which may beregula'ted by 'ade lusting the knob llll as explained above.

Withthe furnace thus in operation, a room thermostat maybe adjusted to call for heat so as to energize heater H3 and torelease the manual control lever H9 to its inoperative position as described above. This places the control device in its normal operating-condition so that when the room thermostat-becomes satisfied, the heater H3 will be deenerg'ized causing the bimetal I09 to move counterclockwise and raise the siphon 92 to its no-flow position and leaving only the pilot siphon 82 in operation.

Should an unsafe condition arise, such as the extinguishment of the pilot flame with a consequent flooding of the furnace with unburned oil, or the sticking of valve Al in its open'position causing oilto overflow through overflow,

pipe 61, the chamber [5 will become flooded.v This;

will raise float 8| to disengage shoulder 86 from shoulder 11 to cause spring 15 to raise latch member I5. The member 15 will engage lever 5i with sufficient force to close said valve 4!. When the unsafe condition has been removed, the member 15 may be manually moved downwardly to engage shoulder 150, with the top of shoulder.

80 to force the float 8i down tothe bottom of chamber l5 and thus. overflow oil'from chamber.

[5 into chambers I6 and H. Releasing of the member 15,will then bring the, lower edge of shoulder 80 against shoulder 11 to reset the safety control'inits operating po'sitionl fThe control device will then continue to oper'ateasbefore until both siphons are lifted to their inoperative upper position by either the knobsfiflandflfll or by releasing the stem I33, to its upper-most position. a f f I As-it is apparent that various modifications ,of

the above described invention may bem'ade 'with out departing from the spirit thereof, it. is to be. understood that only the appended claims should be considered in determining thescope of. the invention.

I claim as my invention: r V 1. .-A liquid flow control device comprising a movable liquid receiving container, means operable by said container for controlling the flow oi liquid to said container to maintain a substan.

10 to hold said discharge means in its no flow posi-- tion and movable to another position to cause said discharge means to lower and to fill'said movable'means for discharging liquid from said container at apoint substantially centrallvof said device and at a rate depending upon .the. elevation'of a discharge outlet of said means with respect to the level of said liquid, adjustable means for limiting the downward movement of said discharge means, and a power operated pivotedlever normally holding said discharge means in an elevated no-flow position but movable with respect to said discharge means to cause'saidflischargemeans .to lower to a flow position; v V

3. A liquid flow control device comprising a movable liquid receiving container having; a substantially "centrally disposed compartment therein, means operable by said container for controlling the flow, of liquid to said container,

to; maintain a substantially constant mass of liquid therein, said compartment having'a discharge opening therein, movable means for. discharging liquid from said container and into said compartment at a point substantiallycentrally of said device and at a rate depending upon the elevation of a discharge outlet of said means with respect to the level of said liquid, means for limiting the downward movementof said discharge means, and means normally holding said discharge means in an elevated no-flow position but movable with respect to said discharge means to cause said discharge means to lower, and movable meansengageable with said discharge means in one of its positions to hold said discharge means in its no-flow position and movable to another position to cause said discharge means to lower and 'toflll liquid. U

' 4. A liquid flow control device comprising a said discharge means with movable constant liquid level container having a compartment therein and an overflow means below the upper edges of said container and compartment, said compartment having a discharge opening therein, valve means operable by said container to control the flow of liquid to said container, means for discharging liquid from said container into said compartment, a

float chamber positioned to receive liquid issuing from'said overflow means, a liquid discharge chamber adjoining said float chamber for re valve means extending into said container and operable by' said container to control the flow of liquid to said container, means for discharging liquid from s'aid container into said compartment, a float chamber positioned toreceive liquid is suing from said overflow means, a liquid dis* charge chamber adjoining said float chamber for receiving liquid directly from said discharge opening in' said compartment, said liquid discharge 1 1- chamber having anoutlet, andfloat-controlled means for moving said valve means to itsclosed position when the float chamber containsa predetermined quantity of liquid.-

6.. vA liquid flow control device comprising a liquid container, means to maintain the liquidlev'elninj. said container substantially: constant,

means havingalno-flow and at leastone flow position. for discharging liquid from said containerat a rate-depending uponthe elevation of a' discharge. end of said means with respect to said liquid level, power means normally holding said discharge'means'inits no-flow position but movable relative to said-discharge means when energized to cause said discharge meansto move, to

itsflow position, an adjustable stop cooperable with said power means for. limiting the downward movement of said ;discharge means, and latch meansv biased towards an inoperativepositionbut movable against said'bias to a latchedipositi'on to move and. toholdsaid power means in-a'position short of the .powermeans normal energized position. and releasable automatically uponenergization of saidpower means.

'7. A.liquid flow control device comprising a a dischargeendof said means with res'pectto said. liquid level, power means normally holding said discharge means in its -no,-flow position but movable relative to. said discharge means whenenergizedto cause} saidLdischarge means to move to, its flow position, a: stop cooperable with. said power meansior-limiting the downward movement of said discharge means andlatch meansbiasedltowards an inoperative position but movable against said bias-to a latched position to move and to hold said power means in a position short ofthe, power means 1 normal energizedposition, said, latch means having -lostmotion= means therein which causes said latch means to unlatch and to return to its inoperative position uponenergization of saidpower mechanism.

, 8, :A; liquid flow control: device comprising a liquid container, means to maintain the liquidlevel in said container substantially constant, means having-a no-flow and at least one flow positionflfor discharging liquid fromsaid .con-

tainer at a rate: depending upon the elevation of a discharge end; of said means with respect to-- said li quid, power means normally holding said-discharge means'in' its. no-flow position-but movable with respect te -said discharge means whenenergized' to cause *said discharge meansto move'to'its'flow; position, and latchmeans biased toward an inoperative position butmovable-against said bias to a latched-position to move andto hold said power'meansin a. position short of the power mfianjsi normal energizedposition; said latch means having lost motion means therein whichcauses said -latch means to 'unlatch and to return toits, inoperative position upon energizationof said power mechanism.

9. A liquid levelflow control devicecomprisi-ng a liquid container; means to maintain the liquid 1evel-.in' said containersubstantially constant, a first and a second means having a no-flow and at least'one flow; position for discharging liquid from said container at a rate depending upon the elevation of adischarge end of each of saicl means withrespeot to .said liquid level,

power means normally holding said: first disbut. movable againstsaid bias. to a latchedposition to move and to holdsaid power means in a. positionshort of the power means normal energized position, said. latch means being lr eleasable uponenerg-ization ofsaid-power means.

10; Arliquid flow control. device'comprising a. liquid container, means to maintain the liquidlevel in said container substantially constant, meanshaving. acne-flow and at'least one flow position for discharging liquid from said container at a rate. depending upon the elevation of a discharge 'end'of' said means with respect to, said liquid, powers means normally holdingsaiddischarge means in its no -flow. positionlbut movable with respect to. said discharge means when energized to. cause said dischargewmeans toumove toits flow position, and latch means. biased towards an inoperative position. but. movable against' said bias to a-llatched position .to move and to holdsaid power means in aposition short of the. power means normal ,energized'position, said latch meansrhaving ,abearing rotatable on a loose fitting pivot which causes said latch means to-unlatch and-Ito .returntoits inoperative position upon-energization of said power means.

11. Aliquid'fl'owcontrol device comprising a.

liquid container, means to -maintain the liquid level in said container substantially constant, means having ano-flow and at? least one flow position .for discharging liquid. from said container at a rate depending upon the, elevationv offa discharge end ,of'said means withrespeot to said liquid ,level, power means normally holdjing. said discharge means in its no-flow position but movable when energized to cause saiddischarge means to move toits flow position, a stop for limiting the downward movement of; saiddischarge means and latch means. biasedtowards an inoperative position but movable against .said bias to a latched position to move and .toho'ld said power means in -aj position short of the power means normal energized position,, said latch means having a bearing rotatable; on a loose fitting pivot which causes said latch meansto unlatch and to return to its inoperativeposition upon energization of said power;means.

12. Aliquidiflow control device comprising-a liquid container, apivot member having a rigid leg and'a flexible leg joined at'their lower ends and a bimetallic.member-mounted on said rigid leg with a free portionthereof bearing against said flexible leg, said flexible leg being rigidly fixed at its upper end, a: lever having one end fixed to said upper end of said rigidleg anda free end extending towards and beyond saidflexible leg, said container being pivoted on said' leveradjacent the upper: end of said rigid leg, means forcounterbalancing said container, valve means positioned to discharge liquid into said container and connected'to said lever for actuation thereby to closed position when said container is filled to a predetermined level, and means for discharging liquid from said container.

13. A, liquid flow control. device comprising a liquid container, a pivot member having a rigid leg and a flexible leg joined .at their lower ends and a member mounted on said rigid leg and havv ing a free portion thereof bearing against said flexible leg, said flexible leg being rigidly fixed at its upper end, a lever having one end fixed to said upper end of said rigid leg and a free end extending towards and beyond said fiexible leg, said container being pivoted on said lever adjacent the upper end of said rigid leg, means for counterbalancing said container, valve means having a liquid retaining skirt surrounding it positioned to extend into and to discharge liquid into said container and connected to said lever for actuation thereby to closed position when said container is filled to a predetermined level, and means for discharging liquid from said container.

14. A liquid flow control device comprising a liquid container, means for maintaining a substantially constant level of liquid in said container, first and second movable siphons having flow and no-flow positions for discharging liquid from said container, first and second stops for limiting downward movement of said siphons, means normally urging said first siphon to its no-fiow position but movable to cause said first siphon to move to its flow position, and priming means for said siphons normally biased to a position wherein it lifts said first and second siphons to their no-fiow positions but movable to a position wherein it primes both of said siphons, lowers said second siphon into engagement with said second stop and frees said first siphon for movement into engagement with said first stop.

15. A liquid flow control device comprising a liquid container, means for maintaining a substantially constant level of liquid in said container, first and second movable siphons having flow and no-flow positions for discharging liquid from said container, power means normally urging said first siphon to its no-fiow position but movable to cause said first siphon to move to its flow position, latch means for moving and holding said power means in a partially energized position when power is unavailable but releasable upon power resumption, and priming means for said siphons normally biased to a position wherein it lifts said first and second siphons to their no-fiow positions but movable to a position wherein it primes both of said siphons, lowers said second siphon to its flow position and frees said first siphon for movement to its flow position.

16. A liquid flow control device comprising a liquid container of the constant liquid level type; a siphon for discharging liquid from said container; means for varying the elevation of said siphon; and priming means for said siphon comprising a chamber rigidly held in said container and having an inlet below the liquid level in said container, an upwardly biased plunger having a portion thereof slidable on and surrounding one leg of said siphon and slidable within said chamber, said plunger in its normal position holding said siphon in its elevated position but being movable to a lower position to prime said siphon and to transfer the control of said siphon to its elevation varying means.

17. A liquid flow control device comprising a constant level liquid chamber, means controlling the flow of liquid to said chamber, a conduit for discharging liquid from said chamber having a raised no flow position and a lowered flow position, a lever pivoted at one of its ends to a rigid support in said control device and pivoted at its other end to said conduit for raising and lowering it, an abutment extending from said lever, a rotatable cam stop positioned to cooperate with said abutment to limit the lowering of said conduit, an arm extending laterally from said lever, power means normally bearing against said arm to hold said conduit in its raised position when deenergized but movable when energized away from said arm to cause lowering of said conduit, and automatically releasable latch means for manually moving said power means to a position short of its fully energized position, said latch means being releasable to its inopcrating position upon full energization of said power means.

18. A liquid fiow control device comprising a constant level liquid chamber, means controlling the flow of liquid to said chamber, a conduit for discharging liquid from said chamber, a lever pivoted at one of its ends to a rigid support in said control device and pivoted at its other end to said conduit for raising and lowering it, an abutment extending from said lever, a rotatable cam stop positioned to cooperate with said abutment to limit the lowering of said conduit, a pin extending laterally from said lever, power means normally bearing against said pin and biased to hold said conduit in its raised position when deenergized but movable away from said pin when energized to cause lowering of said conduit, and liquid flow initiating means cooperating with said conduit to normally hold said conduit independently of said power means in a raised no-flow position but movable to cause lowering of said conduit and to initiate liquid flow through said conduit provided said power means is energized.

ALEX J. BIELSKI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,211,523 Anderson Jan. 9, 1917 1,627,451 Palmer May 3, 1927 1,970,880 Bird Aug. 21, 1934 2,129,937 Johnson Sept. 3, 1938 2,139,616 Foulds Dec. 6, 1938 2,241,327 Selby May 6, 1941 2,269,848 French Jan. 13, 1942 2,273,205 Kommer Feb. 17, 1942 2,303,235 Seldon Nov. 24, 1942 2,317,556 Russel Apr. 27, 1943 2,346,817 Breese Apr. 18, 1944 

